Locals opposed to Amsterdam council’s plans to build wind turbines within the city boundaries are hoping to organise a referendum in the province, in an effort to make sure the new turbines are far enough away from housing.

Currently, turbines have to be at least 600 metres away from housing in Noord-Holland, but provincial officials want to ditch the limit, and Amsterdam officials have said they want to start the development process now, before national government comes up with new rules.

Campaign group Windalarm, set up two years ago to fight plans to erect several turbines near the new residential area of IJburg, is now collecting signatures to get the referendum on the provincial political agenda as a first step.

Amsterdam has plans to build 17 wind turbines as part of its strategy to halt the use of gas, but locals fear they will be built close to housing, saddling residents with constant noise and moving shadows as the blades turn.

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However, last week, the city’s environment chief Marieke van Doorninck said the council would press ahead with the developments, rather than wait for new national government rules on their placement.